Apple-Cranberry Muffins

The best arbiters of taste in our household are hungry poodles Julia, Lulu and grand-dog Whitman. I know this because whenever we humans turn our heads, food disappears. Just look at Whitman eyeing those cranberry muffins. See what I mean?

Speaking of muffins, here’s the perfect recipe to usher in the holidays. These wholesome breakfast treats are studded with tart cranberries and chopped apples and topped with a walnut streusel. The recipe is from Weight Watchers, which means that these are not your average Starbucks muffins — they aren’t laden with butter and they aren’t sticky sweet. They’re made with whole wheat flour and non-fat Greek yogurt, which boosts their nutritional value and lowers the SmartPoints value.

Yes, one muffin is 7 SmartPoints, but don’t sweat the small stuff — one of these will keep you satisfied until lunch time. You’ll be enjoying a delicious muffin and you’ll be doing your body, and your soul, a favor. So dig in with impunity and have a happy, healthy holiday.

To make streusel, stir together flour and brown sugar in a small bowl. Add butter and use fingers to blend butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts and set aside.

To make muffins, whisk together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Whisk together yogurt, milk, oil, sugar, egg and vanilla in a medium bowl.

Add yogurt mixture, cranberries and apple to flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Sprinkle with streusel.

Bake until toothpick inserted into center of muffins comes out clean, about 22 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack about 10 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool completely on rack.